TNO and Hyperion Technologies have developed a laser satellite terminal with which satellites can download and upload data at great speeds. A first version of the terminal, called CubeCAT , will be launched into space in 2022 aboard the NorSat-TD satellite.
Due to its size (1U), low power requirement and low power, the laser terminal is especially interesting for small satellites. These are now tied to low-throughput radio communications. CubeCAT enables speeds of up to 1 Gbps (download) and 200 Kbps (upload). An expensive license is also required for radio communication. This is not the case with laser communication.
The laser must be accurately aimed at the ground station, said Alexandra Sokolowski, business development manager at Hyperion Technologies. “Within a bandwidth of 200 meters. The ground station also sends a laser beam to the satellite, information that the satellite uses to make sure they are permanently tuned.”
TNO is building a ground station in The Hague. “Satellites in low Earth orbit pass every 90 minutes, so the ground station can communicate with the satellite several times a day. We do depend on the weather, on good visibility. Clouds and rain make that impossible. Fortunately, there are several ground stations in the world, also in drier areas like Tenerife.”
The project demonstration was partly realized with the support of the Ministry of Defense and the Dutch Space Agency (NSO). TNO and the Dutch consortium FSO Instruments took care of the optical parts of the terminal; including optical benches and mirrors. Hyperion Technologies supplied the electronics for the CubeCAT.
TNO and Hyperion Technologies are able to meet all needs for laser technology in space and on the ground, says Sokolowski. “This allows us to offer a holistic and integrated system from the start. The collaboration with a research institute also ensures that our solution is and remains at the cutting edge.”